Originally printed in the April 2018 issue of Vogue Arabia
Model wearing dress by Jacquemus at Net-A-Porter. Photographed by Francesco Scotti for Vogue Arabia, April 2018.
Emerging Middle Eastern female jewelers absorb their rich heritage to put a native spin on accessories. Here are the seven female jewelry designers from the region that you need to know now.
Alia Bin Omair
ART PIECE
Born in the United Arab Emirates, Alia Bin Omair draws creative inspiration from surrounding landscapes. With her latest collection, Leaf, she looked to palm trees and nature to offer contemporary, handcrafted pieces that retain the look and feel of raw materials.
Model wearing a blazer by Helmut Lang at Boutique 1. Photographed by Francesco Scotti for Vogue Arabia, April 2018.
Margherita
METAL MAVEN
Looking to Beirut’s modernist architecture, Margherita Abi Hanna creates geometric pieces in contrasting metals, silver, and concrete. She studied accessories design at Milan’s Domus Academy and launched her namesake brand in 2010. Her collection, My Concrete City, pays tribute to the fading buildings of Lebanon’s capital.
Model wearing a Joseph shirt. Photographed by Francesco Scotti for Vogue Arabia, April 2018.
Daou Jewellery
SUPERNOVA
Although originally established in the 1930s, Dalia Daou revived her family’s jewelry legacy in 2016. By combining the brand’s signature statement jewels with new graphic designs (like the above Spark Cluster earrings), she offers collections that will appeal to both longtime fans and fashion’s new wave of influencers.
Model wearing a dress by Jacquemus at Net-A-Porter. Photographed by Francesco Scotti for Vogue Arabia, April 2018.
Dima Kamal
VINTAGE CATHARSIS
Lebanese designer Dima Kamal’s fascination with jewelry from the 1920s – in particular the signet ring – is what led her to launch her own collection in 2010. Working mainly with gold, she insists each piece should have a unique identity and it is this attention to detail that makes her work so precious and impactful.
Model wearing a dress by Petar Petrov. Photographed by Francesco Scotti for Vogue Arabia, April 2018.
Joanna Laura Constantine
POP ART
The 2018 Vogue Fashion Prize accessories winner discovered jewelry while attending Parsons School of Design. She moved to Beirut in 2010 and swiftly launched her namesake brand. Plated in gold and rhodium with signature pops of color, Constantine’s jewelry is joyous, eclectic, and utterly wearable.
Model wearing a turtleneck by Tibi at Boutique 1; and a dress by Marni. Photographed by Francesco Scotti for Vogue Arabia, April 2018.
Karma El Khalil
NOMADIC SPIRIT
Designing is New York-based Karma El Khalil’s gateway to offering her interpretation of beauty. Her 18kt gold jewelry in a fusion of geometric shapes and architectural structures, is inspired by her international upbringing, having lived and studied in Nigeria, France, Italy, and New York. She combines strong angles with soft and fluid elements to create abstract baubles.
Model wearing a dress by Aje at Boutique 1. Photographed by Francesco Scotti for Vogue Arabia, April 2018.
Jude Benhalim
GRAPHIC HERITAGE
Cairo-based designer Jude Benhalim launched her brand in 2011 at the age of 17. She describes her work as a combination of contemporary art and oriental craft, with her Egyptian heritage reflected in the subtle imprints of calligraphy found on many of her pieces. The resulting lineup includes interchangeable earrings (right), necklaces, and cuffs in
sterling silver and resin.
Production
Hair: Sofie Begtrup
Makeup: Sarah Damichi
Model: Stephanie Omorojor at Elite
Jewelry coordinator: Mohammad Hazem Rezq
